Ideally, even in an emergency situation, a meal still consists of some variety in food groups, but that’s not always going to be the reality. For when you need sheer calories in the form of a food bar, the coconut SOS Food Labs Emergency bar is a great option to keep, just in case.
These very dense and heavy survival food bars co*e in vacuum-sealed packaging. Each SOS Food Labs Emergency Food Bar is individually wrapped, so you can open one serving at a time, and you can store your bars individually across your bags, car, and home. They are coconut flavored with a cookie-like texture, and have enough density to keep you going throughout the day. These bars, however, do not have the same nutrient density as some meals on this list, so I reco*mend you keep them as high-calorie snacks, rather than a meal replacement.
There are survival foods out there with more calories, less sugar, and more vitamins, sure, but who doesn’t love dessert? Or, at least, some high-calorie semblance of dessert in an emergency situation. Don’t try to survive on just these bars, but you should keep each of the nine bars in a pack tucked away in various places, and you’ll worry a little less about when you’ll need one.
There’s only so many dehydrated meals you can eat. That’s why it’s important to stock up on staple ingredients with a long lasting shelf life, too.
Augason Farms prepare a wide variety of freeze-dried vegetables and survival food kits. Their potatoes stand out as a versatile and tasty snack or meal ingredient. They’re a good source of energy, and there are many ways you can prepare them. One can of these dehydrated potatoes contains 18 servings, with easy recipes on the back that are easy to modify depending on what food you have available. And with a shelf life of 25 years (and of one year after they’re opened), these potatoes will never go to waste.
It’s nice to have ingredients in your emergency food stockpile, rather than just prepared meals. Bring Augason Farms’ dehydrated onions, carrots, and chicken into the mix, and you have a nutrient-rich meal full of vegetables and protein. Emergency situations don’t always mean you have to sacrifice variety (or your culinary integrity).
These pocket-sized meals are easy, co*pact, and have a ton of nutritional value. The Southwestern Medley is my favorite Nutrient Survival has to offer, and for a meal you can just put in a pocket, backpack, car, or anywhere else—and just add water—it’s a must-have emergency food.
Nutrient Survival loads each packet of Southwestern Medley with 14 vitamins, 13 minerals, 9 amino acids with 12g of protein, 346mg of Omega 3, 789mg of Omega 6, and 6g of fiber. That’s a lot of nutritional benefit for only needing to add ½ cup of water for 3-5 minutes (although you should let it sit for slightly longer). The meal itself is vegetarian, tastes good, and has enough jalapeno and paprika to stay interesting.
For only slightly more effort and resources than a survival bar, this co*pact pouch will give you everything you need in a survival meal. While Nutrient Survival sells 10-serving cans of their survival foods, I think there is a benefit to being able to carry or store these tiny packages anywhere.
While many of Mountain House’s products are advertised as hiking or camping foods, their Granola with Milk & Berries is a high-calorie, delicious, and the best survival breakfast in a survival situation. Just add a small amount of water, and you have a great, sweet meal that will keep you full all morning.
This bag of granola, powdered milk, and freeze-dried fruit is made with no preservatives. While the bag instructs you to add ¼ cup of cold water, I also tried adding hot water to mimic an oatmeal over a cereal. For how good this meal tastes and keeps you full, its 30-year shelf life is an added bonus.
Mountain House has made an objectively good breakfast food, and it is a solid addition to a strong survival food stockpile. Along with the two-serving pouches, I’d reco*mend ordering two 20-serving cans, one for camping, and one to be there for 30 years if you need it.
The first thing to consider before buying survival food is what you’re anticipating having to survive. Where you live, what kind of storage space you have, and why you’re buying food with a long shelf life are all things you need to consider. Your intention could be having enough meals to go two weeks without leaving your house, or you could be anticipating a natural disaster. When you start to consider curating an emergency food stockpile, do your research and make a list of what you can see yourself needing given any emergency situation (before you start shopping).
The next things to consider when shopping for survival food.
Short answer, don’t try. We need 20 amino acids to survive, as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals. But there are some single survival foods, like potatoes, that will get you by for longer than others in a survival situation. So, to avoid needing to ask this question, check your supply of emergency food, and be honest about how much variety you have. Your body and taste buds will thank you if you make an effort to mix things up.
While shelf life ultimately depends on the environment/temperature, storage, and whether your food’s seal is broken, yes, food can last for 25 years. In fact, most of the products I highlighted have an estimated shelf life of 25 or more years.
There are many things you can do now to prepare for being in an emergency situation away from a water source, or in one where you have lost running water. Storing multiple sealed jugs of water with your emergency food and stocking up on water purification tablets are great ways to start. Another source of emergency water could be these emergency drinking water packets. When it co*es to both drinking and cooking water, you can never over prepare.
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